Our deeds and shared values define our culture. As a firm, we are equally passionate about delivering legal excellence and making a difference in the world. MoFo+ shares news and thought leadership from our lawyers and their teams who are proud to contribute to the legal profession and the communities we call home.<h2>About Morrison Foerster</h2>Morrison Foerster is a leading global law firm that transforms complexity into advantage for its clients. Our clients include some of the largest financial institutions, banks, consulting and accounting firms, and Fortune 100, technology, and life sciences companies. Highlighting the firm’s commitment to client service, leadership in market-changing deals and impact litigation, and values-based culture, Morrison Foerster has been repeatedly recognized as one of the top 10 firms on The American Lawyer’s A-List. Year after year, the firm receives significant recognition from Chambers and The Legal 500 across their various guides, including Global, USA, Asia‑Pacific, Europe, UK, Latin America, and FinTech Legal. Our lawyers passionately care about delivering legal excellence while living our values. Morrison Foerster has a long-standing commitment to creating a culture that respects and celebrates differences, while providing an inclusive environment. The firm has achieved Mansfield Certification Plus since 2018 as a result of successfully reaching at least 30 percent women, communities of color, and LGBTQ+ lawyer representation in a notable number of current leadership roles and committees. The firm also has a long history of commitment to the community and society through providing pro bono legal services, including litigating for civil rights and civil liberties, improving public education and fostering the wellbeing of children, advocating for veterans, promoting international human rights, enforcing the right to asylum, and safeguarding the environment.

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Jennifer K. Brown is Senior Pro Bono Counsel at Morrison & Foerster LLP, with responsibility for the overall direction of the firm’s pro bono program. Ms. Brown also develops pro bono opportunities and promotes lawyers’ participation in the firm’s offices on the east coast of the U.S. as well as in China, Hong Kong, and Singapore.Before joining Morrison Foerster, Ms. Brown was vice president and legal director of Legal Momentum, the nation's first women’s rights legal organization, originally known as the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund. There, she directed cutting-edge litigation and policy advocacy focused on employment discrimination, domestic violence victims' rights, and sexuality and family rights. Previously, she served as the reproductive rights director with the Civil Rights Bureau of the Office of the New York Attorney General and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.Ms. Brown brings to the firm her deep knowledge of public interest legal organizations and the most pressing civil rights issues of the day. She has, as well, a rich array of litigation experience, having represented individuals as well as federal agencies and the public, from both the plaintiff and defense positions, in trial and appellate courts. As Senior Pro Bono Counsel, she applies this knowledge and experience to multiple goals: encouraging the firm's attorneys from all practice areas to bring pro bono projects to the firm; easing the way for attorneys to undertake meaningful pro bono service; and working with legal service and public interest organizations to identify creative ways to tap the passion and intellect of the firm's lawyers to pursue the public good. Recent achievements include collaborating with a legal services organization to represent individuals whose claims for unemployment insurance benefits are challenged, and forming a project to represent disabled individuals who are seeking federal disability benefits.Ms. Brown received her J.D. from Yale Law School in 1993, where she was essays editor of the Yale Law Journal (1992-1993) and was awarded the Benjamin Scharps and Israel H. Peres prizes for outstanding writing. Ms. Brown’s publications include, "The Nineteenth Amendment and Women's Equality," 102 Yale Law Journal 2175 (1993) (student note), and "Life and Death with Joan," in AIDS: The Women, Cleis Press, 1988.

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Senior Pro Bono Counsel

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As senior pro bono counsel, Jennifer manages and promotes the pro bono participation of lawyers on the East Coast.

Jennifer K. Brown

Natalie Kernisant is Morrison Foerster’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer.Natalie provides strategic leadership to advance recruiting and retention of diverse talent at the firm, as well as providing client development support in the area of diversity and inclusion. She works closely with the firm’s Diversity Strategy Committee co-chairs Alexis Amezcua, Purvi Patel, and Mark Whitaker, and Women’s Strategy Committee co-chairs Carrie Cohen, Julie Park, and Stacey Sprenkel.Natalie joined Morrison Foerster in November 2013. She was appointed to the newly created role of Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer in December 2020, having previously served as the firm’s Global Director of Diversity and Inclusion.Prior to joining Morrison Foerster, Natalie served as Human Resources Manager for Risk Management within Global Banking and Markets at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Before that, she practiced trademark and copyright law and then served as the Special Projects Manager in the Office of Institutional Policy & Planning at Harvard Medical School overseeing the school’s 2011 accreditation process.In 2021, Natalie was named by Crain’s New York Business to its list of Notable Black Leaders & Executives 2021. The special section recognizes black men and women who have impacted New York City in major ways and sets out to honor their professional, civic, and philanthropic achievements. In 2023, Natalie was recognized as one of Savoy Magazine’s 2023 Most Influential Executives in Diversity & Inclusion. She was also selected to Law360’s Diversity & Inclusion Editorial Advisory Board, whose goal is to provide feedback on Law360’s coverage as well as expert insight on how to shape future coverage. Additionally, she was recognized in the Financial Times 2023 North America Innovative Lawyers report as one of seven individual “Change Makers” in the legal industry for her strategic leadership of the firm’s efforts to interrupt unconscious bias and advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. In 2024, Natalie was named as a Change Driver in the Annual Diversity Awards of World IP Review (WIPR). The annual Diversity Awards recognize those who have made exceptional contributions to diversity and inclusion in the field of intellectual property.During Natalie’s tenure at MoFo, the firm has received multiple <a href="/culture/diversity#page-section-4" target="_self">diversity and inclusion awards and recognitions</a>.

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Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Natalie Kernisant is Morrison Foerster’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer.

Natalie Kernisant provides strategic leadership to advance recruiting and retention of diverse talent at Morrison Foerster, as well as providing client development support in the area of diversity and inclusion.

Natalie Kernisant

Dorothy L. Fernandez is Pro Bono Counsel based in the Denver office of Morrison & Foerster LLP. She is responsible for managing and promoting the participation of lawyers in the firm’s extensive pro bono program which includes, among other things, providing free legal services to low-income individuals, advising nonprofit organizations and assisting in other matters that serve the public interest. Dorothy’s primary focus is on working with lawyers in the firm’s Austin, Los Angeles, San Diego, Denver and Tokyo offices.In 1999, Dorothy joined Morrison & Foerster as an associate in the Securities Litigation, Enforcement and White-Collar Criminal Defense Group. She was elected a partner of the firm in 2004. Dorothy handled complex litigation at the state, federal and appellate levels and was responsible for drafting key dispositive motions in some of the firm’s largest securities litigation matters. In addition, she had an active pro bono practice and represented clients in individual matters, as well as cases addressing the treatment of children in foster care and the rights of LGBT individuals.A dedicated advocate for the LGBT community, Dorothy has served as co-chair of the board of directors of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and she also served on the board of the Pride Law Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships to law students working on issues related to the equal rights of LGBT citizens and people living with HIV/AIDS.Dorothy currently serves on the board of directors of Centro Legal de la Raza, a nonprofit based in Oakland.Dorothy graduated from Stanford University in 1992 with a B.A. in psychology. She earned a J.D. in 1996 from Harvard Law School, where she was a member of the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review and co-chair of HLS Lambda. She has taught as an adjunct instructor at both Golden Gate University Law School and Santa Clara University Law School.

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Pro Bono Counsel

Dorothy works with lawyers in our Denver, Los Angeles, and San Diego offices on various pro bono initiatives.

Dorothy L. Fernandez

Rachel Williams is pro bono counsel based in Morrison & Foerster’s San Francisco office. She is responsible for managing and promoting the participation of lawyers in the firm’s extensive program of providing free legal services to low-income individuals, to nonprofit organizations, and in matters that serve the public interest. Rachel works primarily with lawyers in the firm’s San Francisco, Palo Alto, London, Berlin, and Brussels offices. She is an active member of the Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative and the board of directors of OneJustice. Rachel joined the firm in 1999. Prior to becoming a pro bono counsel, Rachel was a litigation associate in the firm’s Palo Alto office and worked on attorney training and development initiatives. Before law school, Rachel worked for various nonprofit organizations, was an investigator for the public defender’s office in Seattle, and served as a Coro Public Affairs Fellow in New York City.

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Rachel is responsible for managing and promoting the participation of lawyers in the firm’s extensive program of providing free legal services to low-income individuals, to nonprofit organizations, and in matters that serve the public interest.

Rachel P. Williams

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Morrison Foerster has a long-standing commitment to diversity, inclusion, and pro bono work. MoFo+ shares news and thought leadership from our lawyers and their teams who are proud to contribute to the legal profession and the communities we call home.

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Morrison Foerster has a long-standing commitment to diversity, inclusion, and pro bono work. MoFo+ shares news and thought leadership from our lawyers and their teams who are proud to contribute to the legal profession and the communities we call home.

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MoFo Wins Asylum for Cameroonian Political Refugee

MoFo Sponsors the 2024 NAPABA Convention

Navigating Justice and Disability: A Conversation with Judge David Tatel

The MoFo Foundation Supports Pro Bono Partners

MoFo Sponsors the Black Counsel Forum 2024

On Thursday, December 5, 2019, MoFo welcomed leading attorneys and diversity professionals from some of the most influential law firms in the United States to the New York office for the 2019 Women’s Initiative Think Tank. The Think Tank, presented by Threshold Advisors and Hub6, was formed to inspire meaningful dialogue on women’s initiatives within law firms and provide attendees with actionable takeaways to help improve their firms’ women’s and diversity programs.MoFo partner and co-chair of the Women’s Strategy Committee <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/carrie-cohen" target="_self" rel="noopener noreferrer">Carrie H. Cohen</a>, Chief Talent Officer Diane Downs, and Director of Attorney Development and Women’s Initiatives Janet Stone Herman represented MoFo at the event.  Carrie, Diane, and Janet were invited to discuss key topics regarding the advancement of women in law firms during a tactical workshop. They also shared some of the core principles and strategies that have driven the success of women’s programs at MoFo.In addition, Carrie led the lunchtime keynote titled “Diversity & Inclusion: A View from the Bench.” As part of the keynote, Carrie presented findings from a report she co-authored that was adopted by the New York State Bar Association and the American Bar Association titled If Not Now, When? Achieving Equality for Women Attorneys in the Courtroom and in ADR. She also engaged in a fireside chat with a member of the judiciary in which they discussed the bench’s ability in the courtroom to advance the professional development of women and diverse attorneys.Other programs on the agenda included a session on intersectionality titled “Changing the Conversation with Black Women at Work,” and a roundtable discussion on “Allyship: New and Best Practices.” Attendees were given the opportunity to offer and receive advice on a number of critical issues in the advancement of women in law firms. The event ended with a networking and cocktail reception.The Think Tank was started by Threshold Advisors in an effort to further the work of women’s initiatives. Psychologist, career coach, and author Dr. Karen Kahn established the Talent Development Collaborancy™ to provide strategic business coaching for the legal industry and lead others in creating workplaces where women and men thrive and elevate the success of their firms. Rachel Silverman from Hub6 Advisors, a business development coach with extensive legal experience, teamed up with Karen to design and execute the Think Tank’s programming.Learn more about women’s programs and initiatives at MoFo <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/women-of-mofo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

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MoFo Hosts 2019 Women’s Initiative Think Tank

MoFo Hosts 2019 Women’s Initiative Think Tank

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On Thursday, December 5, 2019, MoFo welcomed leading attorneys and diversity professionals from some of the most influential law firms in the United States to t

MoFo’s <a href="https://www.mofo.com/capabilities/artificial-intelligence" target="_self" rel="noopener noreferrer" dir="ltr">Artificial Intelligence + Robotics Group</a> serves a wide range of clients, from startups to technology industry leaders from the Silicon Valley, Europe, Japan and China to global Fortune 100 power players. To deliver the highest level of client service in this rapidly evolving space, MoFo plays to the strengths of its individual lawyers, whether they are called on to protect valuable intellectual property, help clients navigate thorny regulatory hurdles, or negotiate complex licensing and joint development contracts.They understand the importance of immersing themselves in the newest technologies, such as drones, self-driving automobiles, and AI applications diagnosing diseases. Through their unique industry experience and a collaborative, cross-practice approach, they are well-positioned to offer clients comprehensive counsel, tackling issues from intellectual property and data security to technology transactions, regulatory compliance, and litigation, to name a few.In addition to working cross-country from offices located in major technology hubs in the United States, Europe, and Asia, MoFo’s AI + Robotics lawyers also serve their clients’ ambitions to launch their cutting-edge products on a global scale and help them utilize products offered by companies abroad.Our Diverse in Practice series highlights some of the many diverse practice groups that are leading the way for MoFo. In this second installment, we take a closer look at the lawyers whose unique voices and new perspectives are driving outstanding client outcomes for our Artificial Intelligence + Robotics Group. Read their stories here:<a href="https://together.mofo.com/diversity/meet-mofos-diverse-ai-robotics-lawyers-anna-yuan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Anna Yuan</a><a href="https://together.mofo.com/diversity/meet-mofos-diverse-ai-robotics-lawyers-bethany-hills/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bethany Hills</a><a href="https://together.mofo.com/diversity/meet-mofos-diverse-ai-robotics-lawyers-max-fei/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Max Fei</a><a href="https://together.mofo.com/diversity/diverse-in-practice-meet-ai-robotics-lawyer-cecillia-xie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cecillia Xie</a>Learn more about MoFo’s commitment to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse attorneys <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

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Diverse in Practice: Artificial Intelligence + Robotics

Diverse in Practice: Artificial Intelligence + Robotics

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MoFo’s Artificial Intelligence + Robotics Group serves a wide range of clients, from startups to technology industry leaders from the Silicon Valley, Europe, Ja

<a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/anna-yuan.html">Anna Yuan</a> is a corporate associate in MoFo’s San Francisco office. Her practice focuses on patent prosecution, IP due diligence, post-grant proceedings, and patent litigation support. As part of the Diverse in Practice series, we asked Anna about working cross-functionally with the <a href="https://www.mofo.com/capabilities/artificial-intelligence" target="_self" dir="ltr">Artificial Intelligence + Robotics Group</a>, and how the team’s unique voices and perspectives are driving outstanding client outcomes.What was it that initially drew you to AI and robotics law? AI and robotics have fascinated me since college. As a computer engineering major, I built robots and programmed neural networks. When I was a program manager at Microsoft, I especially enjoyed designing software features that make the computer more intelligent and context-aware.At MoFo, my practice focuses on developing patent portfolios for technology startups and companies. Through my work, I have personally witnessed a boom in AI and robotics in recent years – AI algorithms and robots are becoming increasingly intelligent, polished, and ubiquitous in all industry sectors. I love learning about the cutting-edge software and devices that our clients are developing and understanding the technical challenges they have overcome. Most importantly, I find it rewarding to counsel our clients to strategically protect their IP to further their business goals.Do you have any examples of interesting work you’ve performed in the AI and robotics space? At MoFo, we are often in the front seat of new waves of technological advancements. While my work was focused on computer software when I started at MoFo, my practice has evolved to overlap more and more with life sciences. For example, machine learning algorithms are used to discover drugs, revolutionize healthcare, and develop new treatment methods. Robots are used to perform surgeries and run farms. Developing this type of “interdisciplinary” patent portfolio is fun, as it gives me the opportunity to work with and learn from other patent practitioners at the firm.This year, I co-founded MoFo’s Life Sciences Data Analytics Group. The group spans multiple practices at the firm, including patent, privacy, FDA, national security, and technology transactions. We advise clients on all legal aspects of life sciences data analytics businesses, including patenting software and AI-related life sciences inventions, licensing of data, providing counsel on the steps to ensure data privacy and ethical use of data, and guiding clients through the FDA approval process for data-driven diagnostic assays and medical devices. It is fascinating to collaborate with these MoFo practice groups in the United States, Asia, and Europe so that we can collectively help our clients navigate these complex legal landscapes.Can you speak to the importance of mentorship in your career, or perhaps why you are driven to mentor others? Mentorship is important because it makes people feel included, and the feeling of inclusion is a prerequisite to thriving in any work environment. I found mentorship to be critical both as a woman engineer and as an attorney.MoFo’s commitment to mentorship is one of the reasons I work at the firm. When I interviewed as a law student, MoFo struck me as a place where it was evident that women and minorities flourish at all levels. As an associate, I have been fortunate to receive formal and informal mentorship in and outside of my practice group, as well as in and outside of my office. These relationships expose me to diverse perspectives and insights and make me a better attorney. For the same reason, I am driven to do the same for others.Learn more about MoFo’s commitment to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse attorneys <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

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Meet MoFo’s AI + Robotics Lawyers: Anna Yuan

Meet MoFo’s AI + Robotics Lawyers: Anna Yuan

Anna Yuan is a corporate associate in MoFo’s San Francisco office. Her practice focuses on patent prosecution, IP due diligence, post-grant proceedings, and pat

Bethany Hills is a litigation partner in MoFo’s New York office. Her practice focuses on advising her life sciences clients on both pre- and post-market issues, from FDA submissions and communications strategies to post-approval compliance and reimbursement issues. As part of the Diverse in Practice series, we asked Bethany about working cross-functionally with the <a href="https://www.mofo.com/capabilities/artificial-intelligence" target="_self" rel="noopener noreferrer">Artificial Intelligence + Robotics Group</a>, and how the team’s unique voices and perspectives are driving outstanding client outcomes.What was it that initially drew you to AI and robotics law? The laws that impact AI and robotics in the healthcare industry are the full range of laws that I focus on in my practice – the laws that govern the practice of medicine, protections of patients, and the development and approval of medical devices. Surgical robots have been in use since the 1980s, but the real game changer is the addition of machine learning technology that enables decision support, user fatigue alerting, and self-correcting parameters. What drew me to AI and robotics is that the technologies involved challenge existing regulatory frameworks and require creative problem-solving in product development, market access, and legal compliance.Do you have any examples of interesting work you’ve performed in the AI and robotics space? Nearly two-thirds of the work that I do on the pre-market product development side of my practice involves artificial intelligence. A good deal of these products are software-only devices – lung nodule analysis, pathology image analysis, measurement and tracking algorithms, and other products offering the combination of an AI technology, like machine learning, in conjunction with clinical decision support modules aimed at clinicians. I’ve evaluated the FDA regulatory requirements for surgical robotics and also for other therapeutic devices that are interventional or therapeutic that combine AI and robotic functionality.Do you have any examples of how AI and robotics are being used to promote diversity and inclusion, or suggestions on how this can be done in the future? There is much discussion right now about the biases that can be found in AI technologies. These are fascinating policy and cultural discussions, but at their core I truly think AI and robotics can level the playing field in healthcare. AI and robotics can improve consistency and accuracy and supplement human skill sets in a way that eliminates human variability. AI tools allow for healthcare providers to have a deeper understanding of the data available to them and, again, can eliminate disparities in the analysis and processing of data.And while there are still few examples of robotic applications that are consumer-facing, there is promise for robotic devices that can assist in home care and end of life care that could fundamentally change the dynamics of geriatric and chronic care. So, yes, definitely there is a promise for impacting diversity and inclusion in healthcare, particularly in the area of patient access and experience.Learn more about MoFo’s commitment to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse attorneys <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

Meet MoFo’s AI + Robotics Lawyers: Bethany Hills

Meet MoFo’s AI + Robotics Lawyers: Bethany Hills

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Bethany Hills is a litigation partner in MoFo’s New York office. Her practice focuses on advising her life sciences clients on both pre- and post-market issues,

Max Fei is a corporate associate in MoFo’s San Francisco office. His practice focuses on all aspects of domestic and international patent prosecution and portfolio counseling. As part of the Diverse in Practice series, we asked Max about working cross-functionally with the Artificial Intelligence + Robotics Group, and how the team’s unique voices and perspectives are driving outstanding client outcomes.What was it that initially drew you to AI and robotics law? It’s exciting to be where the action is, and the action is in AI and robotics. Artificial intelligence gives us powerful tools to unlock our most complicated problems. Machine learning techniques may help us understand extremely complex biological interactions so that we can develop new cures for diseases. AI and robotics promise to make us safer with self-driving cars that can greatly reduce traffic injuries and deaths. It’s an exciting time to be in this space.How does the field of AI and robotics intersect with, or improve upon, similar practice areas? One of the core pillars of AI and robotics is computer vision, which is the ability for a computer to recognize objects and patterns like we are able to with our eyes and brain. This is the foundation for a lot of interdisciplinary work, especially where we are trying to blend technology with everyday life. Self-driving cars and augmented reality are examples where robust computer vision techniques are crucial to success.Do you have any advice for the next generation of aspiring diverse lawyers who might be interested in the field? Because this field spans so many disciplines, it’s very important to have a solid technical foundation. An AI and robotics project may involve general computer programming, computer vision algorithms, machine learning techniques, mechanical engineering, and statistics, among other disciplines. It’s not feasible to be an expert in every field, but having the right foundation of math, physics, and programming allows you to understand how all of these pieces fit together to complete the puzzle.Learn more about MoFo’s commitment to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse attorneys <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

Meet MoFo’s AI + Robotics Lawyers: Max Fei

Meet MoFo’s AI + Robotics Lawyers: Max Fei

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Max Fei is a corporate associate in MoFo’s San Francisco office. His practice focuses on all aspects of domestic and international patent prosecution and portfo

Cecillia Xie is a litigation associate in MoFo’s New York office. Her practice focuses on advising clients across various sectors on privacy and cybersecurity issues in mergers and acquisitions, and other transactions. As part of the Diverse in Practice series, we asked Cecillia about working cross-functionally with the Artificial Intelligence + Robotics Group, and how the team’s unique voices and perspectives are driving outstanding client outcomes.What was it that initially drew you to AI and robotics law? I have a background in economics, so I was drawn to the questions in AI that intersect with issues in econometrics. AI is sometimes touted as the solution to implicit biases and discrimination, but it’s far from a perfect methodology. Machine learning replicates and depends on the initial inputs, and if implicit biases are present in the input sample set, the algorithm will continue to replicate those biases. I like AI’s potential for the public good, but I also like the interesting problems it poses in implementation, as it could just as easily be a tool to justify perpetuating existing systems.How does the field of AI and robotics intersect with, or improve upon, similar practice areas? Because it is a relatively new field, AI has interesting intersections with IP and privacy, which center around ownership of ideas/creations and personal information, respectively. AI takes us one step further in inquiring about the makeup and ownership of large information sets containing both ideas/creations and personal information. Particularly, as privacy laws develop around the world, it will pose interesting questions for the use of AI, such as what types of personal information can be used in machine learning algorithms and what rights individuals should have with respect to algorithms that use their personal information to advertise to them, to extend or decline loans to them, and even to decide whether to employ them.Do you have any advice for the next generation of aspiring diverse lawyers who might be interested in the field? Stay curious! The exciting part of new fields of practice such as AI + Robotics is that laws, market practices, and public sentiment are constantly changing as stakeholders try to figure out a workable equilibrium among all interests. If you’re willing to incorporate new perspectives and developments into your practice and periodically revise your thinking, you’ll be well-equipped to work in this dynamic practice area.Learn more about MoFo’s commitment to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse attorneys <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/">here</a>.

Meet MoFo’s AI + Robotics Lawyers: Cecillia Xie

Meet MoFo’s AI + Robotics Lawyers: Cecillia Xie

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Cecillia Xie is a litigation associate in MoFo’s New York office. Her practice focuses on advising clients across various sectors on privacy and cybersecurity i

MoFo partners <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/jessica-kaufman.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jessica Kaufmann</a>, <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/eric-pai.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Eric Pai</a>, <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/tina-reynolds.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tina Reynolds</a>, <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/claudia-vetesi.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Claudia Vetesi</a>, and <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/nicole-serfoss.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nicole Serfoss</a> were selected to attend the Mansfield Client Forums, hosted by <a href="https://www.diversitylab.com/what-we-do/">Diversity Lab</a> — a think tank dedicated to curating innovative ideas and solutions to bolster diversity and inclusion in law.In 2019, the firm once again received Mansfield Certification Plus status, following Mansfield Rule 2.0, indicating that we successfully reached at least 30 percent women, minority, and LGBTQ+ lawyer representation in a notable number of current leadership roles and committees. The firm was one of only 25 that received Certification Plus for two consecutive years, and was one of 44 law firms to pilot Diversity Lab’s inaugural <a href="https://www.diversitylab.com/pilot-projects/mansfield-rule/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mansfield Rule</a> initiative which ran from the summer of 2017 through mid-2018.As part of earning Mansfield Certification Plus status, MoFo was given the opportunity to invite a select list of diverse partners to attend one of four client forums in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. The client forums present a unique opportunity to network with other diverse attorneys and meet with high-level in-house counsel representing companies such as CBS, Lincoln Financial Group, Pfizer, BASF, MassMutual, and PepsiCo, among others.Partners were invited to attend both days of the forums in each city. The first day was filled with intriguing TED-style talks interspersed with small-group, professional networking breaks to facilitate business connections. The second day was dedicated to small-group pitch meetings with select in-house counsel.Client forum topics included:<ul><li>How and Why I Hire (and Sometimes Fire) Outside Counsel</li><li>How to Get Additional Work and Successfully Cross-Sell Your Colleagues When Working with My Company</li><li>What Is Keeping My Legal & Compliance (and Business) Colleagues Up at Night</li><li>The Impact of D&I on the Selection of Outside Counsel</li><li>Five Things I Love (and Loathe) That Outside Counsel Does When Working with Me</li><li>It Takes Two to Tango: The Role That In-House Clients Play in Cultivating Diverse Teams in Firms; and the Surprising Ways that Outside Counsel Can Cultivate Diverse Teams In-House</li></ul>New York litigation partner Jessica Kaufman, Palo Alto litigation partner Eric Pai, and Northern Virginia litigation partner Tina Reynolds attended the forum in New York and found that the company representatives who took part in the forum’s pitch meetings were excited to explore potential areas in which they could engage MoFo. While making some new connections, the lawyers were also able to meet with existing clients to strengthen those relationships. Jessica noted “The sessions were really useful, as were the informal networking opportunities,” and added, “I always get something out of clients talking about what they need.”Denver litigation partner Nicole Serfoss, who joined San Francisco litigation partner Claudia Vetesi for the West Coast forum, remarked, “We received some really good intel from the clients we met with, from what they’re looking for in pitches to potential ways MoFo can help with their current needs.”As a follow-up to the event, Diversity Lab sent out a survey to attendees in order to continue improving the forum. Diversity Lab also collected valuable feedback from client pitch sessions to share with attendees on speaking style, effectiveness at describing capabilities, and knowledge of their firm’s commitment to diversity, as well as practical tips for improving their pitch skills.MoFo is proud to continue its commitment to the advancement of its diverse attorneys and to take part in Mansfield Rule 3.0 in 2020, which will include lawyers with disabilities in the populations considered.Read more about the results of Mansfield 2.0 from Diversity Lab<a href="https://www.diversitylab.com/pilot-projects/mansfield-rule/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> here</a>.

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Five MoFo Partners Attend Diversity Lab’s Mansfield Client Forums

Five MoFo Partners Attend Diversity Lab’s Mansfield Client Forums

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MoFo partners Jessica Kaufmann, Eric Pai, Tina Reynolds, Claudia Vetesi, and Nicole Serfoss were selected to attend the Mansfield Client Forums, hosted by Diver

In this edition of Matters That Matter, we honor the many lawyers who have dedicated their time to important pro bono causes. This month, we highlight a variety of worthy projects, such as protecting the freedom to express political viewpoints, advising an organization on their platform to eliminate plastic water bottles from the world, and helping an entrepreneur share her love of healthy baking with others. These are just a few examples of the many ways our lawyers are living out our proud pro bono tradition every day.Investigating Fair Treatment of FBI Agents In Lieu of Political Viewpoints Washington, D.C. litigators Bob Litt and Sophie Cash recently filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the FBI on behalf of the editors of <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.lawfareblog.com/">Lawfare</a>, a prominent blog on national security issues. The suit charges the FBI with failing to respond to Lawfare’s requests for information regarding the FBI’s discipline of employees for making political comments about the candidates in the last two presidential elections, including Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Mitt Romney.Lawfare filed the requests to aid its investigation into whether the FBI has treated agents differently based on the viewpoints expressed in their political comments, an investigation that was sparked by the abrupt firing of former FBI agent Peter Strzok earlier this year for text messages he wrote that criticized then-candidate Trump. One interesting fact from the lawsuit that has been largely overlooked in the storm of commentary connected to those text messages is that, under the applicable section of the Code of Federal Regulations, an FBI employee has the right to “[e]xpress his or her opinion as an individual privately and publicly on political subjects and candidates.” The legal complaint, filed December 18th, is available <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/6589840/Complaint-1.pdf">here</a>.Testing Easier Access to OTC Contraceptives on College Campuses More colleges are interested in installing vending machines on campus to increase access to over-the-counter contraceptives. New York litigation attorneys Bethany Hills, Felicity Quigley, and Hilary Hoffman are researching if any liability could arise from providing access to contraceptives through on-campus vending machines. They are conducting this research for the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://healthlaw.org/">National Health Law Program</a>, or NHeLP, a nonprofit whose advocacy priorities include making over-the-counter contraceptives, such as condoms, contraceptive foams, and the morning-after pill, more widely available.Giving Those with Criminal Records a Second Chance Los Angeles litigation partners Sylvia Rivera and Eliot Adelson are supervising four separate criminal record–clearance matters in partnership with <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://accessprojectca.org/">The Access Project</a>, a nonprofit that leverages cloud technology, online drafting platforms, hands-on training, and a strong network to connect law firms and the legal services community with those in need.Over the last several years, California’s legislature has passed laws to help individuals clean up their criminal records, which have an impact on nearly every area of a citizen’s life, from employment to housing to the ability to be licensed for certain jobs. MoFo’s team will be reviewing criminal RAP sheets for their clients to assess what relief is available to them, completing judicial council forms for the available relief, meeting with the clients to review the forms and draft short declarations, filing and serving the court filings, and, if necessary, attending court hearings.Creating a Recipe for Success for a Growing Startup Palo Alto corporate partner Timothy Harris is advising the entrepreneur and owner of Choc’late Mama Cookies on entity selection and formation. The entrepreneur created her chocolate chip cookie recipe for her daughter, who has a dairy allergy and is unable to enjoy most store-bought sweets. The cookies are vegan and gluten-free, and have become very popular in her Oakland community among people who are seeking allergen-free cookies.This matter was referred to the firm by <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="http://www.startsmallthinkbig.org/">Start Small Think Big</a>, a nonprofit organization that helps low-to moderate-income entrepreneurs build businesses in underserved areas of New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area so owners can increase their own personal financial security as, well as stimulate economic activity in their communities.   Making Moves to Eliminate Bottled Water from the World Tokyo corporate partner Kenji Hosokawa is helping <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.socialinnovationjapan.com">Social Innovation Japan</a> (SIJ) with preparing and reviewing sponsorship and other agreements. SIJ is a nonprofit organization that combines cross-sector, international experience with a deep commitment to an all-of-society approach to solving some of the world’s greatest social, economic, and environmental challenges.SIJ recently launched MyMizu, a new initiative with a mission to eliminate bottled water from the world. Its first product is a smartphone app that helps users find free water-refill points, making it easier for users to carry their own water bottles. As the initiative continues to scale, SIJ is teaming up with sponsors and other third-party collaborators, and needs assistance with preparation and/or review of sponsorship and other agreements, as well as other legal documents.Preventing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence on College Campuses San Francisco litigation partner Arturo González, finance associate Cody McDavis, and tax attorneys Lauren Keller and Olivia Sher, with supervision from senior tax attorneys, are working with <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://settheexpectation.org/">SetTheExpectation</a>. SetTheExpectation is a nonprofit organization that provides sexual violence–prevention programming on college campuses across the country. It also works with other nonprofits to provide gender-based violence–­­­prevention training to institutions of higher education, and professional workplaces.Cody will focus on helping the organization draft a sexual violence–prevention policy, and conduct a multistate survey on laws against sexual and gender-based violence. The tax attorneys will provide the client with guidance on how giving sums of money to other nonprofits may affect its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.xxxMatters That Matter looks at some of the most significant, recently opened matters and developments in our global pro bono efforts, from staffing legal clinics and advising nonprofits on their legal needs to advocating for individuals who would otherwise be denied equal access to justice. For more examples of MoFo’s global pro bono efforts, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/pro-bono/">visit our website</a>.

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Matters That Matter: December Pro Bono Roundup

Matters That Matter: December Pro Bono Roundup

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In this edition of Matters That Matter, we honor the many lawyers who have dedicated their time to important pro bono causes. This month, we highlight a variety

<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com">Morrison & Foerster</a> is proud to be a participant in a joint pledge, created by PILnet, the Global Network for Public Interest Law, and announced during the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.unhcr.org/global-refugee-forum.html">Global Refugee Forum</a> in Geneva, in which law firms, bar associations, and organizations around the globe have come together to pledge pro bono resources to protect and find solutions for refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, and other forcibly displaced persons, in support of a coordinated response to the global refugee crisis.The pledge was announced by PILnet Hong Kong Office Programs Manager Julia Mayerhofer at the opening of the Global Refugee Forum. The event, which was attended by over 100 companies and foundations and was co-hosted by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Government of Switzerland, included welcoming remarks and participation from several prominent government officials and representatives from various organizations worldwide, including:<ul><li>The High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi</li><li>The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres</li><li>The President of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado Quesada</li><li>The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan</li><li>The Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen</li><li>The German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Heiko Maas</li><li>The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan</li><li>The World Bank</li><li>The Inter-American Development Bank</li><li>Ingka Group</li><li>Vodafone Group</li><li>LEGO Foundation</li><li>Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani Humanitarian Fund</li><li>The International Olympic Committee</li><li>Aya Mohammed Abdullah of the Global Refugee Youth Advisory Council</li></ul>PILnet’s pledge was among several other pledges announced during the Forum to help combat the global refugee crisis. According to PILnet, the number of refugees has risen to more than 25 million people worldwide. To date, PILnet has mobilized 27 law firms, bar associations, and corporations to commit 125,230 pro bono hours in the face of this humanitarian crisis.With this pledge, Morrison & Foerster continues its long-standing commitment to help refugees and asylum seekers around the globe.To learn more about the pledge or how you can get involved, visit PILnet’s <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.pilnet.org/">website</a>. You can also read more about Morrison & Foerster’s pro bono work <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/pro-bono/">here</a>.

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Morrison & Foerster Pledges Pro Bono Assistance in Response to Global Refugee Crisis

Morrison & Foerster Pledges Pro Bono Assistance in Response to Global Refugee Crisis

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Morrison & Foerster is proud to be a participant in a joint pledge, created by PILnet, the Global Network for Public Interest Law, and announced during the Glob

Editors’ Note: This post was written by Tokyo associate Hanae Charlotte Fujinami. Morrison & Forester is a founding member of the Lawyers for LGBT Allies Network (LLAN), a Japanese non-profit dedicated to helping the business community understand the issues faced by LGBT and other sexual minorities. As a member myself, I presented at the New York State Bar Association’s Internal Section’s Tokyo Conference in November 2019, where I—along with two other LLAN members—gave an overview of the status of equal marriage rights in Asia and the history and status of the marriage equality movement in Japan. Joined by panels addressing Human Trafficking, and Diversity and Inclusion, we were one of three groups speaking as part of the Human Rights Plenary Session.This wasn’t the first time I had done pro bono work to further this particular cause. In the beginning of 2018, along with a team from MoFo that included Jim Hough, Dan Levison, and Aramide Fields, I worked with LLAN on a draft Viewpoint for the American Chamber of Commerce Japan (ACCJ) in support of marriage equality. Inspired by one of the amicus curiae briefs in U.S. Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges, in which 379 employers and organizations representing employers argued in support of marriage equality, we put together a business case in favor of marriage equality, highlighting how it would help employers to maximize productivity, and minimize inefficiencies, in human resource management. Marriage equality would also, we argued, give Japanese employers an edge in hiring top quality talent—a particularly salient point given Japan’s current labor shortage.The ACCJ published the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="http://llanjapan.org/news/850">Viewpoint to Support the Recruitment and Retention of Talent by Instituting Marriage Equality in Japan on September 19, 2018</a> with the support of four other Chambers of Commerce, including the Australian and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce Japan, the British Chamber of Commerce Japan, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Japan, and the Irish Chamber of Commerce Japan.In the past year, the MoFo team has been engaged with LLAN and other marriage-equality advocates throughout the business community in Japan to promote the Viewpoint. Now—just over a year later—more than 70 other organizations have signed up  to support it and to demonstrate the business community’s support of marriage equality. Watching support for the Viewpoint grow has been extremely rewarding. The more I learned about the movement for LGBT rights here in Japan, and witnessed how Japanese companies received the Viewpoint, the more heartened I’ve become about the possibility of seeing marriage equality here in Japan.Surveys show that the majority of Japanese people support same-sex marriage. And Japanese companies have met our outreach efforts with warmly; companies generally want to be supportive of their LGBT employees. These efforts seem to be paying off: in July, the Japanese Federation of Bar Associations, the Japanese analogue to the ABA, released an opinion stating that denying same-sex couples the freedom to marry is a violation of their civil rights.As lawyers and employees of companies doing business in Japan, we can help show the wider community that LGBT rights are human rights, and that marriage equality is both mainstream and beneficial to society at large. Hopefully these efforts will help bring marriage equality to Japan in the near future.

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Arguing the Benefits of Marriage Equality in Japan

Editors’ Note: This post was written by Tokyo associate Hanae Charlotte Fujinami.  Morrison & Forester is a founding member of the Lawyers for LGBT Allies Netwo

Arguing the Benefits of Marriage Equality in Japan